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New Mix & Chat with Takaya Nagase
This week’s musical host is Takaya Nagase, a renowned DJ, record collector, involved in the Loft parties, and a founding member of New York’s local music collective, JOY.
by Herb Essntls
A year ago
This week’s musical host is Takaya Nagase, a renowned DJ, record collector, involved in the Loft parties, and a founding member of New York’s local music collective, JOY.
When we talked prior to you doing the mix, we talked about you choosing records that were particularly personal to you. How did this inform your approach? How would you say this mix differs to what you would normally play at a party?
Most of the songs I chose for this mix came from my personal collection. It differs from what I would normally play out.The pandemic gave me a chance to re-listen to many records that I had not listened to in a while.
I particularly used this time for self-healing and included songs that I could feel at this time.
It differs musically from what I would normally play at party but similar in a way that what I play at Joy is anything goes.
At Joy Party, One music host (we are not called DJ) plays for more than 8 hours from start to end, so at first people slowly gather from the empty dance floor and I really like this time. From Ambient music, Jazz, Soul, Rock. World music, Reggae dub, Disco, House, Techno.... all kind of music played smoothly and dance floor becomes full of people and reaches its peak time. Sometimes I suddenly switch to a completely different world and surprise everyone. If you listen to this mix, you'll understand what it means.
You are a founding member of the local collective JOY, that focuses on musical journeys through quality sound, and a focus on environment. To what extent do you associate these attributes with personal or communal wellbeing, or our collective need to feel…...JOY?
The full extent. We believe the communal well being is a direct result of having quality sound and environment.Has your relationship to music changed since the pre-pandemic days?
No, but I miss connecting and celebrating with my friends.But during the pandemic I got a chance to work at record store called Captured Tracks Records in Greenpoint Brooklyn. Pricing records and taking care online sales and this has opened up my musical tastes and allowed me to exchange with other staff, djs and collectors in New York. Many of you knows who works there!
Please come and see me on Tuesdays & sometimes Saturday. I will pul out nice jams for you!
You grew up in Tokyo and then later moved to New York. Take us back to this time and place in your life, can you share with us a memorable experience during the formative period of your interest in music, and how this manifested itself in your desire to move to NYC?
I was first into fashion. Studying design and graduated from fashion college in Tokyo but music and going to clubs took over my interest. I liked the DJs from New York and wanted to experience the clubs in New York. The club scene in New York in the early 90s was very special and had a very deep impact on me and I could not forget the experience of the New York clubs and especially The Loft and decided to move to New York.You’re a key member of the collective continuing to host the Loft parties here in NYC. The 50th anniversary party this year was an incredible gathering, and one of the last times many of us were together, pre lockdown. What have you learned during your journey as part of this collective?
Many things. Sound, acoustics, friendships, giving, receiving, love..And mostly things I can not describe here except by actually coming to the Loft.
You’ve previously said that sound quality is an influential factor to experiencing music. What are your recommendations to promote this type of experience at home, as nightclubs and live musical experience remain on hold in the present?
Make good friends and invite them to your home!Good company is more important than a good sound system!
Last question - and one of our favorites to ask our musical hosts - if you could plan a party in the near future as the world reopens - what kind of music would share, who would you invite and where would you host?
I would love to travel and play but I mostly want to host a Joy party.Joy is something I have been a part of for the past 9 years and is very personal.
And I miss everyone that made Joy what it is. Peace.
